Improvement in boxes for prohibited mail and other matter



H. 0. UNDERWOOD. Box for Prohibited Mail and other Matter.

WITJVE SES LNVEJV'TOR W y dwz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIRAM O.UNDERWOOD, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT lN BOXES FOR PROHIBITED MAIL AND OTHER MATTER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2] 8,090, dated July'29, 1879; application filed February 8, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM O. UNDER- WOOD, of Kalamazoo, in the county ofKalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Boxes for Prohibited Mail and other Matter; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawin gs, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal sectionof my mail-box, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same.

My invention relates to a box of wood or other suitable material, thelid of which is held in a closed position by means of elastic bands, soas to make, in connection with proper packin g, a water and airtightjoint; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement ofparts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out inthe claim.

The device is especially adapted to inclose for transportationprohibited mail matter, such as glass, tools, tacks, edged implements,and the like, such matter being at any time open for inspection bysimply pressing open the lid; but the device may be used for othersuitable purposes, as is obvious.

In carrying out my invention I employ a box of wo0d,in one piece,scooped or dug out to form a receiving-chamber for the goods. One ormore partitions may divide the interior in to two or more such chambers,if desired, to carry more than one quality or kind of merchandise.

Fitting neatly upon the upper edges of the box is a cover, a portion ofwhich reaches down into the reception-chamber to hold thelid firmly 1nplace. The bearing-edges between the box and lid are each provided witha proper packin g, so as to form an air-tight, or approximatelyair-tight, joint.

Formed within the body of the box, and also in the lid, near the bottomof the former and the top of the latter, are open mortisesone, two, ormore-which receive removable elastic endless bands. The openlongitudinal mouths of the mortises allow the endless bands to beapplied and removed at will by turning said bands in an edgewiseposition, and their constant binding force prevents their removal.

Upon the top of the lid, however, I place or secure firmly a sheet ofpaper, which not only closes the mouths of the upper mortises, butaffords convenient means upon which the address may be written.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the box-body, having chamber Aand open mortises a, as shown. This box is preferably made of one pieceof wood, and the upper edge, which forms the bearing-surface for thelid, is provided with a suitable packing, a, to form an approximatelyair-tight joint in connection with the similar packing 11 upon the lidor cover B. This cover has a downwardly-projecting portion, which fitsneatly within the chamber of the box and prevents the disturbance of thesame, and it is also provided with the open mortises b, as shown.

0 represents elastic bands, which are reniovably received in themortises, in which they exert a constant force to keep the box and lidin a closed position, but susceptible of being pressed open to inspectthe contents, if desired.

A sheet of paper, D, is pasted upon the upper surface of the lid,covering the mouths of the mortises, and affording convenient means uponwhich to write the address.

The bearing-edges of the mortises are round-. ed, so as not to cut theelastic band by bruises.

These boxes may be used over and over again, as may be desired, it beingonly necessary to paste a new sheet of paper, D, over the old one.

I am aware that endless elastic bands have encircled boxes provided withnotches in the edges of their lids, and that bill files have beenprovided with recesses in which endless elastic bands have been coveredby slides also, that the bands have been covered by paper containingprinted matter thereon, none of which devices are sought to be coveredherein.

I claim- AIS-090 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM O. UNDERWOOI).

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. REED, WILLIAM BALLANTINE.

